Las Vegas tourism drops tied to tariffs and rhetoric

A look at how cross-border tensions and tariff policy are shaping travel to Las Vegas and beyond.

Las Vegas tourism falls amid Trump rhetoric

In June 2025 Las Vegas welcomed 400,000 fewer visitors than June 2024, an 11 percent decline. International arrivals and hotel occupancy also fell as Canada’s role as a top foreign visitor source waned under tariff talk and sharp statements from Washington. By July 2025 the downturn extended to a seventh straight month, with declines from Germany, China and Switzerland as well. Car crossings at the border were down 37 percent and air arrivals down 26 percent, while duty-free sales along the border nearly halved. Tourism revenue is projected to fall from 181 billion dollars in 2024 to 169 billion in 2025, a 12.5 billion-dollar hit, and Reuters analysis suggests the broader economy could lose as much as 71 billion dollars of GDP. In Las Vegas the impact is tangible: fewer shifts, shorter hours and layoffs, with union officials calling it the “Trump slump.” A Time magazine feature quotes local workers describing the atmosphere of uncertainty and reduced demand. On Truth Social, Trump claimed the United States remains the “hottest” and most respected country, a claim that sits uneasily next to the data on travel and sentiment.

The data show political choices have real economic consequences. Tourism thrives on signals of welcome, and Canada is a crucial partner for American destinations. Tariffs and harsh rhetoric convert into lower traveler volumes and harder business conditions for hospitality workers. The result is not just a headline – it is a chain reaction that touches border communities, airlines, and local unions.

Highlights

The coming months will test whether policy choices can rebuild confidence in American tourism